Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi avoids clash with RRR, moves to 18 February

Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022) has avoided a potentially bruising clash with SS Rajamouli’s Roudram Ranam Rudhiram (2022) on 7 January by shifting its release to 18 February.

The producers, Bhansali and Dr Jayantilal Gada of Pen Studios, revealed the new date today, which places the period film between Laal Singh Chaddha, which will be released on Valentine’s Day, 14 February, and Jayeshbhai Jordaar, which is due to be released on 25 February.

Alia Bhatt plays the titular character Gangubai, a young brothel madam in 1940s Kamathipura in Bombay, who rules the red-light district. Ajay Devgn also has an important cameo in the feature film.

Gangubai Kathiawadi has had numerous date changes since last year owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. The filmmaker and the star had also tested positive for coronavirus while shooting for the feature.

Rajamouli’s magnum opus RRR, his follow-up to the global blockbuster Baahubali films, stars Jr NTR and Ram Charan together for the first time. The film, which is set in the 1920s, also stars Bhatt and Devgn in key parts.

The filmmaker thanked Bhansali and Gada for shifting Gangubai Kathiawadi to February. Gada is also co-producing RRR.

Last month, at an event held in Mumbai for a tie-up with PVR Cinemas, Rajamouli had denied that the two films would hurt each other. “I always believe if the films are good [it won’t affect]. Even if four films come together, people will watch all the films. It happens again and again, and if you look back at history, there are multiple instances. People will be spoilt for choice,” he had said.